Avoid Fines! Add Photos to the MLS the Right Way

Last week we published a blog on tips for taking property photos that will wow clients. This week's blog focuses on how to use the photo manager within the Matrix MLS to upload photos of your listings. Not only is the information useful to help promote your listings, but it will also help you avoid the fines stated in the ACTRIS Rules and Regulations under the photo policy.

Please note that you need to be subscribed to the MLS and you will need an MLS number before getting access to the photo manager.

If you didn't already know, the Matrix Photo Manager allows you to:

Upload up to 40 photos to your listing

Copy photos from your existing listings (any property type)

Enter up to 1,000 characters for photo description

Drag-and-drop to reorder photos

To upload photos before activating a listing, simply submit the listing as Incomplete to receive an MLS number.

Stay away from fines.

The MLS has a strict photo policy all members and subscribers must comply with. Here's what the photo policy states:

At least one digital image of each property (all property types) listed in the MLS shall be loaded within seven days of the list date unless written documentation requesting a digital image not be submitted is signed by the seller and submitted to ACTRIS.

If the listed property has a dwelling, at least one image must be of the front of the dwelling. This does not apply to “To Be Built” or “Under Construction” dwellings.

Digital images submitted to MLS shall only contain photos pertinent to the listed property, floor plans of the listed property, and renderings of the listed property or plat maps.

Digital images should not contain contact information such as names, phone numbers, email addresses or web site addresses, including use of embedded, overlaid, or digitally stamped information, except for the listing Participant’s yard sign (provided that such yard sign may only be incidental to and a small portion of the digital image).